Portable respirator



Oct. 23, 1951 F. r. WALLIN 2,572,787

PORTABLE RESPIRATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.Hana/5 T M/fi Oct. 23, 1951 F. T. WALLIN 2,572,787

PORTABLE RESPIRATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR.Franc/.5 H a/fi/j Oct. 23. 1951 F. T. WALLIN 2,572,787

PORTABLE RESPIRATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.v

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 [TED ES: FICE PORTABLE RESPIRATORJ FrancisT-nWallin, BrooklinagMass;

Application Dec'emberZO, 19.48, Serial No; 6613 59 7 Claims;- (Cl.ESP-30) The present invention relatesto a portable respirator of thetype' herein described; in which" pressure is changed from aboveatmospheric to: below atmospheric inrepeated cyclesl to force aboutartificial breathing-a Respirators' of the present type enclose" thewhole bodywith the exceptionof the head and' the faceor a portion' ofthe body from the neck down belowthewaist. The present invention is animprovement of the latter modification and has" for its purpose theconstruction of a portable -respirator= which will be not only light buteasyto adjust, may be quicklyputon a patient; and provides -eificientoperation in" the application of-- pressures and vacuums for"completely" controlling artificial" breathing: In the present case,-power maybe applied electrically or mechanically" for pro'd'uc-- ing thenecessary operating pressures" and vacuums.

Inthe" presentinvention; the portable -respi rator has a housing whichis made in t'wtr fitted part's which divide atthe sides-of the"respirator" and'through the arm holes in right angl'e sections and notlongitudinally through the whole ofthe respirator. This arrangement'leavesari'gid h'ead plate supported from the base through which: a headopening is: providedwhich is covered by a nemovable collar adjusted for'the desired" fi't of the-patients neck whenthepatint is put in -the"respirator; By making: the respirator' of sep arable par-ts;asdescribed'in thezpresent invention, it is possible to make it"a firm,strong, light; rigid; structure with flexible elements for the neck, 1arms and waist such that the proper plus: and minus pressures-maybeobtain'edwith great efiicienoy; The respirator at the same time iscomfortable for' the 1 patient: and is light enough to permit thepatient to assume various desired: positions. A further importantfeature ofth'epresent respirator is that it'isso' constructed in its.details that'the patient can easilybe-placed in therespirator veryquickly; the timebei'n'g-less than two minutes from the start to theproper running and functioning of the respirator. A further advantage isthat the respirator is so: shaped that it will'fit any adult,- child, orinf-antis The'respirator of the present invention may becontinuously-used as-in the casecipoli'o victim'sand'may also'be usedfor resuscitation cases-such as drownings or electricshock-si Thepresent invention will be more fuuydie scribed in the specificationbelow when taken in" connection with the drawings illustrating anembodiment thereof in which Figure 1 shows" a perspectiireview oftherespf-- .ing 2.

rator as viewed fronr the side looking slightly to:- I wards the front.

Eigure 2 Ishows .a: sidese'ction: in elevatiomtaken lengthwise throughthe respirator.

Figurefisshowsva section takemonithei-lines 3':-3:. of? Figure2 21Figure- 4showsaa= viewroft the respirator'looking: at the: frontendawith: respectitrr Figure: 1:; and: Figureefiishows ai plamviewasvimivedifrnmiaz pDSi tionzoventhearespiratom Referring? to" thedrawings; the: respirator: is: formedi of two; parts, a: chest? or:bodyrhnusing" 2; andi' a base: part:- l The base part: I side; sections:3 which; extend: upwards; from: the. floor.

' 5'0 of thev-basezto the 'mid'dle ofithaarm: hole: Hi

andlongitudinallyffom" the armt-ho'le to: the end of the: respirator; Afront backwardly' inclined? sections 4, inclinediupri'ght: at? an;angle; slanting; less than 90? backwardsi towards the base sec tionz 3;.is integrally; joined? to; the? base: section". 41 has; at front:flatiwalkelement: 5 and; a: b'ackward'ly: flanged arched; section: 6:which in general is. tIICKSZ'IH'ErShEDBfiISThG: chest section; 2 but ofalarger'size; The sections 3,14; .and i' are: all permanent-lyi joinedasia continuous airctight element! andjfonmaa strongi rigid structure:The: frontzplatezw5 carriesza fiat',=clamping ringiT which clampsztorthezwallisurface 5; and holdsinrplaoe: an: adjustable collar disk"81in; the. manneriasi1 later"- explainedi The arched flanged SBCtiOITLGEhasran. inwardly'ex-tending flange" 9; which is: positioned; inabutting? relationship: tot a similar?" shapedi fi'ange arched section:I B extending upwards: and; outwardsfrom the inner end ofthe chest houseThese abuttingflan'gesi 9 and I0 extend in parallel* and abuttin'grelationship from one armhole position- H on one side to the other" armhole position I2 on the= other'side-i of the: respirator;

The"- chestitsection 2 and base: 3- also are. fitted With" inwardly"extending flanges running-: along:- abutting'longitudinal edgesatLthe'sides of the respirator where the piece's z and* 3 fit; Theselongitudinal flan'ges-are shown in- Figures 2. and 3 I at I3 and" M'at'--bothsides of the respirator;

These longitudinal abutting: flanges extend substantially fi'om themiddle: of the arm'- hole- It longitudinally along the sideof therespirator:v These joining' flanges along the sides and front" havebetween them rubber: gaskets I-6 and' I5"- respect'i-ve'ly whicharefixed place-on one or the othenof the partsi'of the:respirator:

After the patient has been put ii1-the respi-- rater," the chest portion2" isput' inplace and 56? looked; after which the arm c'losuresa with-1mm 3 tubular sleeves may be applied and also other adjustable elements,as will be properly explained.

In order to provide proper fitting for the chest section 2, it has guidepins H at the sides, engaging in loops l8 which locates the fit of thetwo elements together. A spring tensioning locking clamp I9 is providedat the end of the sections 2 and 3 so that these ends may be quicklylocked in place to make a tight fit at this position. A

plurality of locking clamps 20, 2|, and 22 are provided between thearched flanges 9 and I clamping the front end of the chest section tothe arched section 6 extending from the front plate. For this purposethe flange ID on its external side has tabs or hooks 46, 45, and 41which extend outwards on the flange l0 beyond the surface of the section6 so that the clamps 20, 2|, and 22 which are mounted on this surfacewill pull the flange l0 tightly against its abutting flange 9 andcompress the rubber gasket l to form a tight seal.

After the two sections have been put together, the sleeve assemblies 23to close the arm-holes or openings are put in place. This comprises anouter stiff flat oval ring 24 from the inner edge of which a tubular gumrubber sleeve 25 extends. This tubular sleeve is sealed to the ring 24on the inside surface of the ring facing the respirator, and against theouter surface of the sealed edge of the rubber sleeve is a sponge orsoft rubber clamping ring 26 which lies against the fiat surface 21 ofthe ring 24 around the arm hole The outside wall section 3 of therespirator just below the arm opening is provided with a loop 28 inwhich a projecting tab 29 engages for attaching the flat ring 24 firmlyto the side of the respirator for sealing the sleeve in position. Theassembly 23 is quickly put on by inserting the tab 29 in the slot 28 andthen pressing the opposite side of the ring 24 at A against the fiat 21about the arm hole, finally closing the spring latch 30 in place, thusclamping the gasket 26 under tension. The plate 24 is rigid so that therubber gasket between the plate and the side i of the respirator forms atight seal at that point. The rubber sleeve 25 extends down around thearm of the patient and is tied by a band passing around the sleeve. Eacharm closure is put on in the same way with a sponge rubber gasket makinga tight seal against the chest piece. The arm closures are preferablymarked with different colors in combination with a color spot on thechest piece so as to identify the proper closure for the proper armopening.

The collar disk 8 covering the head hole 43 is of a soft thick gum orsponge rubber material and has a neck opening 3| positioned towards thelower end of the head hole opening in the front plate off center fromthe clamping ring I. The collar disk 8 for the neck is provided withfour or more straps 32, etc., by means of which the collar 8 may bestretched so that the neck opening 3| in the collar becomes properlyenlarged to fit the neck of the patient in the respirator. The collaropening 3| is of course flexible so that it may be pulled over the headof the patient when the patient is put in the respirator. After thecollar 8 is put over the head of the patient, the clamping ring 1 is putin place and. the hand nuts 33 and 34 are put on loosely after which thestraps 32 are pulled outwards and fastened on the pins 35 to produce thedesired stretch of the neck opening 3|. The straps are of courseprovided with a series of holes 36 so 4 that varying adjustment may bemade for the neck opening. The neck opening 3| should of course be tightenough so as to prevent a substantial leakage and yet be free enough topermit the patient to be comfortable.

Extending from the bottom of the respirator is a flexible rubber waist31 which is sealed around and to the bottom of the base 50 and heldtight by a strap 38 passing about the lower part of the chest piece 2 ofthe respirator just within the lip edge 5|. This rubber waist 31 isprovided with an air tight slide fastener element 39 which may be azipper, having abutting rubber beads which cover over the mechanicalinterlocking elements of the zipper. A broad strap may be applied andtightened around the rubber waist to make it hug closely the patientsbody so that a good air seal may be had at this part of the body.

The base section of the respirator may be raised slightly by supportingbrackets 40 and 4|, while within the base there is a rubber pad or sheet42 on which the patient rests. From a consideration of Figure 2, it willbe seen that when th clamping ring 1 and the rubber disk 8 are removed,the head hole 43 for the patient will be sufficiently large for the headof any patient to pass through, so that the person can readily be placedin the respirator with substantially no difficulty whatsoever. This willpermit the collar to be put on very quickly and will also allow theoperator to adjust quickly the collar to the proper tension and comfortof the patient.

Attention is further called to the shape of the chest piece as seen inthe section shown in Figure 3 wherein the wall is abruptly slopedoutwards at 44 rather than downwards, the outwardly inclined sectionproviding the surface on which the lock 30 is mounted for clamping thearm closure in position. By having the surface directed as indicated at44, the arm closure may be drawn inward rather than upward and thereforeprovide a positive clamping of the arm closure pieces.

The respirator is operated through a single opening 48 at the top fromwhich a hose may extend to the power plant and supply the necessaryvariations in air pressure. A manual operated blower may be mounteddirectly over the air opening 48 or a hose may be connected from 48 to amotor operated blower of the type commonly used in this work.

The device of the present invention may be used for any purpose forwhich a full size or portable respirator may be used. The respirator ofthe present invention can be carried and handled by an ordinaryindividual and can be used either as a temporary apparatus or for con- 7tinuous operation.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patientfrom the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts. one part comprising a base toaccommodate the patients back, said base having as a unitary structure,low side walls with recessed sections on each side forming a portion ofthe arm holes to accommodate the arms of a patient, and an upwardlyextending face plate with a backwardly extending continuous side wallforming a part of the arm opening uniting with said previously mentionedside wall forming a line of junction between the separable partsextending in a longitudinal plane parallel to the base, and upward- 1ytransverse thereto with an intersection in the arm openings at the sidesof the respirator.

2. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patient from the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts, one part comprising a base toaccommodate the patients back, said base having as a unitary structure,low side walls with recessed sections on each side forming a portion ofthe arm holes to accommodate the arms of a patient, and a backwardlyinclined upwardly extending face plate having a head opening with abackwardly extending side wall running continuously around the faceplate and uniting with said previously mentioned side walls as a unitarystructure, said second part comprising an arched body section having anedge complementary to the edge of the first part with a portioncompleting substantially one quarter of the arm opening and a pluralityof fasteners positioned transversely of the junction edges of the twoparts for sealing the parts together.

3. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patient from the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts having a line of junction at eachside of the housing corresponding to the sides of the body to armopenings therein and another line of junction for said partssubstantially in a plane perpendicular to the first line extending fromthe top of the housing to the said arm opening, the junction edges ofeach part having extending flanges, a rubber-like gasket lining saidflanges and clamping fasteners positioned transversely to said junctionedges having means for compressing the gasket between said flanges allalong the junction edge.

4. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patient from the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts, one part comprising a base toaccommodate the patients back, said base having as a unitary structurelow side walls with recessed sections on each side forming a portion ofthe arm holes to accommodate the arms of a patient, and a backwardlyinclined upwardly extending face plate having a head opening with abackwardly extending side wall running continuously around the faceplate and uniting with said previously mentioned side walls as a unitarystructure, said second part comprising an arched body section having aforward flanged edge with tab elements extending beyond the surface ofsaid backwardly extending side wall, facing a corresponding flange onsaid backwardly extending side wall providing sealing surfaces, and aplurality of fasteners positioned on the surfaces of said backwardlyextending side walls and interlocking with said tab elements.

5. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patient from the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts having a line of junctionintersecting at an angle in sections of the parts forming arm openings,said arm hole openings having a substantially fiat surface around thesame, a flat hard ring element having a flexible rubber sleeve extendinginto the ring at its inner edge thereof and over the inner ring surface,a soft clamping gasket facing over said sleeve on the inner ringsurface, said ring having an opening coinciding with said arm opening, atab at the bottom side of the ring insertable in a loop attached to theoutside of the housing below the arm opening and a latch fastener parton the outside of the ring opposite the tab and part on the housing forclamping the ring to the housing.

6. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patient from the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts having a line of junctionintersecting at an angle in sections of the parts forming arm openings,said arm hole openings having a substantially flat surface around thesame, a flat hard ring element having a flexible rubber sleeve extendinginto the ring at its inner edge thereof and over the inner ring surface,a soft clamping gasket facing over said sleeve on the inner ringsurface, said ring having an opening coinciding with said arm opening, atab at the bottom side of the ring insertable in a loop attached to theoutside of the housing below the arm opening and a latch fastener parton the outside of the ring opposite the tab and part on the housing forclamping the ring to the housing, the surface of said housing beingsloped at an angle to said clamping surface at the position of saidlatch to permit pressure to be exerted by the latch on said clampinggasket.

7. A respirator of the type described having a housing adapted toenclose the body of the patient from the neck to the waist, said housingbeing in two readily separable parts having a line of junctionintersecting at an angle in sections of the parts forming arm openings,said arm hole openings having a substantially flat surface around thesame, a flat hard ring element having a flexible rubber sleeve extendinginto the ring at its inner edge thereof and over the inner ring surface,a soft clamping gasket facing over said sleeve on the inner ringsurface, said ring having an opening coinciding with said arm opening, atab extending from the edge of the ring insertable in a loop attached tothe outside of the housing in a corresponding position, and a latchfastener part of which is attached on the outside of the ring oppositethe tab and part on the housing for clamping the ring to the housing.

FRANCIS T. WALLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Terhaar Sept. 6, 1949

